Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, May 6: For the first time in the recent history, a large number of wells and tubewells in addition to rivers and rivulets of the twin-districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have gone dry. The government has declared two taluks of Dakshina Kannada district as drought-hit but so far no drought relief has not been disbursed.

Even before these taluks were officially announced as drought-hit, the district administration had set up coin booths in villages to address drinking water shortage. As per information, the state government has spent Rs 12.58 crore to set up such booths in 148 places across Dakshina Kannada district. People have been saying that none of these booths have so far given out any drinking water to the people and that the government, which seeks to ration water because of its shortage, has spent crores of rupees for impractical schemes like the above without thinking twice.

Last year, the drinking water problem had become acute and people had to work hard to get drinking water. To tackle the problem, a large number of borewells were dug. During this period, the government planned to set up clean drinking water dispensing booths. In the first phase, this scheme was executed in 13 gram panchayats in this taluk.

Under this scheme, which was implemented by water and sanitation department of the zilla panchayat, anybody can get ten litres of clean water by inserting one rupee coin in the slot provided therein and pressing a button. These booths were linked to the water supply system already prevalent in the gram panchayats. A total of 148 such booths were set up in Dakshina Kannada district, but during the 11 months these booths are in existence, they have never given out any water.

The zilla panchayat claims that five among 13 booths in this taluk are functional. But a proper scrutiny reveals that they too are not properly working. None of the 11 booths in Sullia taluk are working, while one among 16 booths in Puttur taluk is working. None of the 27 booths in Bantwal taluk are providing water to the needy. The situation is similar in Mangaluru taluk where 19 such booths have remained dry throughout. Four more such booths are being built now.

While the government has sanctioned five lac rupees to each of these units, which cost Rs 8.5 lac each, the balance is met by local bodies or local sources. Depending on the success of this scheme in this district, it was to be extended to other districts but this scheme which would have benefitted the people if it was properly implemented, has failed to properly take off.

In most of these booths, there are no coin machines. The contractors have remained happy at building the booths without the coin booths, as a result of which the money invested in the construction of these booths have become dead investments.

These booths have not quenched the thirst of the needy this summer too. Zilla panchayat officials say that the chief executive officer will soon be writing to contractors, setting a deadline for successful completion of these booths.